From Gary V. Womack... Vacation From God?

Vacation From God?

Man's concept of deity was typically limited to the concept of local gods. Each nation was thought to have their own god. Consequently, the God of Israel was understood by the surrounding nations as "just another god" among many gods. But the God of heaven is not confined to earthly places.

Examples - Judg. 16:23

                   Dagon - the god of Philistia

2 Kgs. 1:3 Baalzebub - the god of Ekron

Abraham acknowledged God wherever he travelled:

Gen. 12:1-8 Abraham leaves home & erects 

                   alters in Canaan & at Bethel. He 

                   erected many alters to God.

Gen. 28:10-17 His grandson, Jacob, en route to 

                       Haran had a vision of a ladder 

                       going up to heaven - He hadn't 

                       known God was there.

God is ever-present

Psm. 139:1-12 God sees in all places - There is 

                        no escaping His presence.

We can't take a vacation from God. Yet we need to have a time to rest:

Mk. 6:30-44 Jesus & His disciples went to a 

                   desert place to rest -  but the crowds 

                   found them & Jesus fed 5,000

What if God took a vacation from us - and did not provide for us?

When we go on vacation - take Him with you - because you are His temple:

Do we act - dress differently when we are away where no one knows us?

Remember your influence goes with you where ever you go.

1 Cor. 6:15-ff Our body belongs to God.

Temple - [naos] = "A shrine or sanctuary"

Wherever we go - remember that God dwells within us:

Jn. 14:23-24 "Jesus answered and said to him 

                     (Judas - not Iscariot ), 'If anyone loves 

                     Me, he will keep My word, and My 

                     Father will love him, and We will come 

                     to him and make Our home with him. 

                     (24) He who does not love Me does 

                     not keep My words, and the word 

                     which you hear is not Mine but the 

                     Father's who sent Me.' "

God led Israel out of Egypt - His presence seen in the pillars of fire & cloud:

Ex. 13:21-22 "And the Lord went before them by 

                      day in a pillar of cloud to lead the 

                      way, and by night in a pillar of fire to 

                      give them light, so as to go by day 

                      and night. (22) He did not take away 

                      the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar 

                      of fire by night from before the 

                      people."

Moses pleaded with God not to depart - but to lead them to Canaan:

Ex. 33:7-16 If God would not lead them, they 

                   would not go. Our attitude?

We need to have this same mind - that we dare not go without Him near.

God is always not far from each one of us:

Acts 17:24-27 Paul at Athens taught that God is 

                       not confined but yet is near

Joshua was given assurance that God would not leave him:

Deut. 31:1-8 "I will never leave you nor forsake 

                      you..."

When we go on vacation, will we leave Him behind?

Will we plan ahead to meet with brethren to worship Him?

Mt. 18:19-20 (Jesus) "Again I say to you that if two 

                     of you agree on earth concerning 

                     anything that they ask, it will be done 

                     for them by My Father in heaven. (20) 

                     For where two or three are gathered 

                     together in My name, I am there in the 

                     midst of them."

Midst - [mesos ] = "In the middle." Is Christ in the center of our life?

There is no vacation from God.

INVITATION

Eph. 1:3 Every spiritual blessing is available to 

              us in heavenly places in Christ

Eph. 2:7 We can sit together with Him in 

               heavenly places

How do we enter into Christ in order to sit in heavenly places?

Gal. 3:26-28 Baptism puts us into Christ.

From Gary... The tooth murderer

The tooth murderer

I saw this post from the Christian Chronicle on facebook today and thought you might enjoy it.  Those who have ever taken gas when having a tooth pulled will relate to this big-time!!!  It was interesting to me because Abbie is a student at Oklahoma Christian College and therefore I think its safe to assume that she is a member of the church of Christ.  According to Jimmy Kimmel, this video has gone "viral" and is therefore getting national attention!!!  So, she says some funny things while medicated - so what?  Well, medication is a drug and removes inhibitions.  People let their guard down and you get an insight into who they really are - not just what they pretend to be.  In this case, the innocence and sensitivity she shows is praiseworthy.  Its truly refreshing to see a young person who obviously is a credit to her parents.  I like the way Paul talks about such things, so I have listed this passage from the book of Philippians...

Philippians, Chapter 2

  12  So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.  14 Do all things without murmurings and disputes,  15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding up the word of life; that I may have something to boast in the day of Christ, that I didn’t run in vain nor labor in vain. 

I probably will never meet this young lady, but I would like to let everyone who reads this know that I pray that she will never lose her innocence and pleasant ways. Think about it; if you can't apply this to yourself, well, there is no time like today to change!!!  And you don't even have to post a video!!!!!

From Gary V. Womack... Transformed to his image

TRANSFORMED TO HIS IMAGE

Lk. 6:27-36, 40 "...Everyone who is perfectly 

                         trained will be like his teacher." 

                         Loving your enemies = Merciful

Mt. 6:43-ff Loving your enemies makes you like 

                 your heavenly Father.

The nature & character of God is unique:

All-seeing - All-knowing - All-powerful - Ever-present We are none of these things

We are to become like Him as we grow in His grace.

Jn. 1:11-18 Jesus "declared" the Father - & gave 

                   us "power to become Sons of God.

This was a matter of God's choosing before He made us:

Rom. 8:29 "For whom He forknew, He also 

                  predestined to be conformed to the 

                  image of His Son, that He might be the 

                  firstborn among many brethren."

Rom. 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by 

                     the mercies of God, that you present 

                     your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, 

                     acceptable to God, which is your 

                     reasonable service. (2) And do not be 

                     conformed to this world, but be 

                     transformed by the renewing of your 

                     mind, that you may prove what is that 

                     good and acceptable and perfect will 

                     of God."

Consider some characteristics in which we are to become like God:

HOLY

Lev. 11:41-ff Laws regarding clean & unclean 

                     animals - was to teach the Israelites 

                     about holiness.

They were to consecrate themselves and be holy like God

1 Pet. 1:13-16 "Therefore gird up the loins of your 

                       mind, be sober, and rest your hope 

                       fully upon the grace that is to be 

                       brought to you at the revelation of 

                      Jesus Christ; (14) as obedient 

                      children, not conforming yourselves to 

                      the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 

                      (15) but as He who called you is holy, 

                      you also be holy in all your conduct, 

                      (16) because it is written, 'Be holy, for 

                      I am holy.'' "

GRACE & TRUTH

Jn. 1:14, 17 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt 

                    among us, and we beheld His glory, 

                    the glory as of the only begotten of the 

                    Father, full of grace and truth."

                    (17) "For the law was given through 

                    Moses, but grace and truth came 

                    through Jesus Christ."

We are to grow in grace & knowledge of Christ = truth:

2 Pet. 3:18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of 

                   our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To 

                   Him be the glory both now and forever. 

                   Amen."

NOT TO HOLD ON TO OUR ANGER

Psm. 103:8-10 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, 

                        slow to anger, and abounding in 

                        mercy. (9) He will not always strive 

                        with us, nor will He keep His anger 

                        forever. (10) He has not dealt with 

                        us according to our sins, nor 

                        punished us according to our 

                        iniquities."

We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath-

'

Eph. 4:26-27 "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let 

                     the sun go down on your wrath. (27) 

                     nor give place to the devil."

PATIENT - LONGSUFFERING

2 Pet. 3:14-15 "Therefore, beloved, looking forward 

                        to these things, be diligent to be 

                        found by Him in peace, without spot 

                        and blameless; (15) and consider 

                        that the longsuffering of our Lord is 

                        salvation - as also our beloved 

                        brother Paul, according to the 

                        wisdom given to him, has written to 

                        you."

1 Cor. 13:4 "Love suffers long and is kind; love does 

                   not envy; love does not parade itself, is 

                   not puffed up;"

IMPARTIAL - NOT PREJUDICED

Deut. 10:17-19 "For the Lord your God is God of 

                        gods and Lord of lords, the great 

                        God, mighty and awesome, who 

                        shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.

                        (18) He administers justice for the 

                        fatherless and the widow, and loves 

                        the stranger, giving him food and 

                        clothing. (19) Therefore love the 

                        stranger, for you were strangers in 

                        the land of Egypt."

Jas. 2:1-9 We are not to hold the faith of our Lord with partiality.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

1 Jn. 4:7-11 The proof of God's love is our 

                    example

1 Cor. 13:1-3 Love is the measure of our maturity 

                      in Christ.

All who are in Christ are to set Him as their pattern for living - their goal

Col. 3:1-11 The "new man" is renewed in 

                   knowledge according to his 

                   Creator's image.

2 Cor. 3:12-ff (18) "But we all...are being 

                             transformed into the same 

                             image from glory to glory..."

God's children are blessed to walk in the way of the Lord - anticipating a time when we will see Him and be like Him.

1 Jn. 3:1-3 "Behold what manner of love the Father 

                   has bestowed on us, that we should be 

                   called children of God! Therefore the 

                   world does not know us, because it did 

                   not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are 

                   children of God; and it has not yet been 

                   revealed what we shall be, but we know 

                   that when He is revealed, we shall be 

                   like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

                   (3) And everyone who has this hope in 

                   Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

We are purified in the blood of Christ - to walk a new life

Rom. 6:3-13 Being dead to sin - we are freed 

                    from sin & made alive in Christ

2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a 

                   new creation; old things have passed 

                   away; behold, all things have become 

                   new."

From Gary... The New Birth

THE NEW BIRTH 

SONG... Heaven came down

SCRIPTURE....John 3:1-7

INTRODUCTION

A. Surpassing value of being born 

   again!!!!

B. Simply the essence of true 

   revival!!!!

C. Scriptural emphasis on being re-

   generated==BORN AGAIN

   1. Isaiah 43:3-7

   2. John 3:3 , 3:5

   3. Matthew 28:18-20 , Mark 16:16

D. Specific passage John 3:1-16

   1. Proclaimed 1--6

   2. Perceived 7---13

   3. Provided 14--16

THE SIGNS LED TO THE MAN

JOHN 2:23-25

BODY

A. THE NEW BIRTH: IT'S PROCLAMATION TO 

   MEN 1-6

   1. The men in the passage: 

      JESUS/NICODEMUS

      a. Jesus: a teacher in the day

                a rabbai

                God sent to men

      b. Nicodemus: a learner at night

                    a ruler

                    a Man coming to GOD

    2. The message of the new birth: 

       life 3

    3. The manner of BIRTH????? 4

    4. The method's importance 5--6 ek 

       entrance

       NOTE: TRUTH SEES TRUTH==REVIVAL

       EARS TO HEAR

B. THE NEW BIRTH: IT'S PERCEPTION BY 

   MEN 7-13

   1. The PROBLEM in perceiving is 

      attitude 7-9 shogun--knife scene

   2. The PERSON giving perception is 

      JESUS 10---13

   3. The PRACTICALITY for us eye== I 

      trouble

C. THE NEW BIRTH: IT'S PROVISION FOR 

   MEN 14-16

   1. Provided in the cross 14

      And the people spoke against God 

      and Moses--5-

      and the Lord made fiery 

      serpents.. so that many of the 

      people died--6-- then the Lord 

                 said to Moses,

                 'make a fiery serpent, 

                  and set it on a 

                  standard; and it 

                  shall come about, 

                  that everyone who is 

                  bitten, when he looks 

                  at it, he shall live-

                  -8

    2. Provided in belief--15-- 

       lip service

    3. Provided in love---16

    4. Provided for us---Provided we 

       accept

CONCLUSION

A. RECAP OF WHAT THE NEW BIRTH IS......

B. RELATIONSHIP TO US... ARE WE 

   CHRISTIANS...NEED REBIRTH????